Most of the Earths changes happen over millions of years. But earthquakes can force significant changes to the land in just a few moments. Students will learn the science of plate tectonics and its role in the development of earthquakes around the globe. They will also learn that not all rocks are created equally. In fact, rocks are all different... more...

Perhaps nothing is more frightening than seeing a forest fire rage out of control. Sometimes, however, fires are set intentionally to benefit the environment. Students will learn not only what fire is and how it burns, they also learn how fires can both help and harm the areas they affect. more...

Students may list more differences than similarities when comparing floods and blizzards. But, they will discover they have one vital ingredient in common: water. Students will learn the powerful forces of water as it pertains to floods and blizzards. They also discover that although these two forces of nature can cause difficulties for people, they... more...

Hurricanes plague the tropics from June through November. Some years bring just a handful of storms. Other years, meteorologists run out of names because there are so many. Students learn how and where these storms form and the dangers they pose to the land and people who live in Gulf and Atlantic coast regions. more...

As far as dangerous weather goes, tornadoes may be the most fierce and powerful of storms. Students will learn how and where tornadoes hit, and how people protect themselves from their life-threatening winds. But not all people run for cover when a tornado hits. Storm chasers actually run after these swirling masses! Students will be highly engaged... more...

Images of an erupting volcano can be mesmerizing. Students may be surprised to learn that volcanoes erupt every day. Some erupt constantly, while others lie dormant for years or even centuries. Students learn what happens beneath the Earth to cause a volcanic eruption and the different structures beneath the Earth that cause new land to form, all with... more...

The water cycle is like a circleit has no beginning and no end. When the sun heats ocean water, it evaporates and forms clouds in the sky. When these particles get big enough, they can fall to Earth as precipitation in the form of rain, sleet, snow, or hail. When water hits the ground, it can change to liquid, soak into the ground, or run off... more...

There are many different kinds of rocks. But rocks have many things in common, too. All rocks are solid, are made naturally, and are made up of groups of smaller particles and minerals that are stuck together. There are three types of rocks: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Rocks have been used to make buildings, walls, and roads. In the form... more...

Water science dates back to the tenth century when Persians made discoveries about groundwater. Mathematician Mohammed Karaji wrote an early book about the main ideas of the water cycle. In the 1500s, Bernard Palissy connected the flow of rivers and streams to rainfall. Astronomers made advances in water science by studying the weather. Today, water... more...